Stations Manned and Ready - 2nd Edition

NAVAL WARGAMES RULES FOR THE PERIOD 1885 TO 1945 USING SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT

Current Edition: 1.1

Recommended scale: 1/1200 to 1/3000

Complexity: 8/10

Level of detail: 9/10

Dice required: D20, D10, D6

Updated 22 April 2016

This is a new edition (1.1) of the rules with some revisions and expansions. Please note that the Print on Demand product for the new edition will be available as soon as possible. Until it is ready, the Print on Demand version has been deactivated.

In summary, the significant changes in the rules are as follows:

We have introduced the (optional) use of Contact Markers to represent the uncertainty of where the enemy actually is, with appropriate rules for identifying what a Contact Marker may represent.

The rules for torpedo attacks have been changed so that attacks are declared during the Movement Phase, and resolved in the Action Phase.

Small craft (Type "X" in the rules) are handled differently with beter combat rules.

The Critical Damage Tables have been revised.

... and now back to the rules themselves...

These rules are set at a squadron level, allowing relatively large battles to be fought on a normal table in 2 to 4 hours. The period covered by the rules starts in ca. 1885 running through to 1945. The data in the system is compatible throughout so ships from all periods could be matched against each other, though this may not be recommended.

Ship data is presented in sets for nations and time eras. The data sheets are fully prepared for you, so there is no need to fill out separate sheets. The only proviso is that when using smaller vessels you may have print several copies and the names will have to be entered individually by the player. Ships from cruiser upwards all have individual sheets. All data sheets take account of revisions of armament at various times.

Time scales are 6 minutes for a game turn, combat is regulated by the use of 5,000 yard range bands, which provide gun penetration values and torpedo hit modifiers. Armour protection is converted to an armour class on specific areas of the ship, taking account of the armour type and date. Damage represents those hits that cause significant damage to the target, and critical hits cause degradation of the combat effectiveness of ships. Command and crew quality are important and ships are commanded and crewed by men of mixed ability, generated using systems which players will recognise from other A&A titles.

The chance of critical damage is now keyed to the "size of the bang" involved, and the number of guns firing (in the case of ships). More guns means a more chances of causing critical damage, and larger shells/bombs mean a higher chance that critical damage will occur. Higher chances also mean that the damage effects may also be more extensive, because we have expanded the way in which the critical damage system works.

Play follows a sequence using initiative. The winner of initiative chooses which side will move a squadron first. Movement then alternates between the two sides. During Movement the slowest elements finish their movement first, so the order is all submarines, then all ships, finally all aircraft. The winner of initiative then shoots with a squadron first, and then play alternates. Combat actions ignore the type of element involved.

Movement takes into account the manoeuvrability of ships of different sizes. Gunnery takes into account the crew skill of the firing ship, interference by shooting from other vessels, the size of the target and the number of guns firing. Hits will cause structural damage and may also cause critical hits, which will degrade the combat effectiveness of the vessel. As ships get more damaged, there is a possible effect on morale, which may cause formations to withdraw to lick their wounds.

Rules Support package

The additional files that were originally downloaded as part of the rules package have been separated out, and are now available free opf charge as the SMRII Rules Support Package (AA510WV) here on Wargame Vault. In addition 9 of the free battles have been included as "taster" battles. These are:

Pre-Dreadnought: Santiago and Port Arthur.

WW1: Coronel and the Falkland Isklands.

WW2: Atlantic: River Plate and Denmark Strait.

WW2 Mediterranean: Cape Bon.

WW2 Pacific: Tassafaronga and Kolombangara.

Please note that in order to use these rules, you will also require either

Rules Support Package (mentioned above) and

Ship Data Booklets for the nations you want, or

Battle Booklets, which include the ship data sheets for the battle.

The following products are available:

Ship Data Booklets. These are required and provide the necessary ship data sheets to play the game. Data Booklets are provided for France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Russia, United States and Other Nations. Each set is divided into three eras covering 1885 to 1905, 1906 to 1925 and 1926 to 1945. The are also available as "Bundles" of three eras together.

Aircraft Data Booklet. This is necessary if you wish to include aircraft in your games.

I am really enjoying this game right now. Very comprehensive and not an ounce more complex than it needs to be to deliver. Games play relatively fast. SMR2 has both a pre-game "strategic initiative" and ship "morale" rules. Both [...]

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